Woman to appeal social media order

Belfast women Marion Curoe happly poses for the camera after her court case in Coleraine for allegedly sending menacing messages to her former partner and his girl friend. Curoe was banned for two years and not to contact either party.PICTURE MARK JAMIERSON.

Staff Reporter

A lawyer for a woman who mounted a long running Facebook campaign against her former partner - father to one of her children - on Monday told a court she wishes to appeal a restraining order which gags her from making any reference on social media to the man and his new girlfriend.

Maureen Curoe (40), of Pilot Street, Belfast - mother of top Belfast model Joelle Curoe - was hit with a two year order in July and warned that if she breached it she could face up to five years in prison.

Curoe, who had been partner to Adrian McAleese (38) from Ballymoney for several years, was told by District Judge Liam McNally at Coleraine Magistrates Court on July 27: “It is now time for these messages to stop”.

And the judge told her she had to get on with her own life and allow Mr McAleese and his girlfriend Yvonne Hegarty (47), from Coleraine, to get on with their lives.

He imposed a two year restraining order which bans Curoe from posting any messages or getting somebody else to post a message for her on any social media making any reference to Mr McAleese or Ms Hegarty or making any reference to any history involving them.

Curoe’s barrister Ben Thompson returned to the same court on Monday to say his client wished to appeal the restraining order.

The case is due to be heard in September after Judge McNally allowed the application and he fixed bail for Curoe - who was not present in court - on the sum of £100.

The judge also told a prosecutor to get the Public Prosecution Service to notify Mr McAleese and his partner about the appeal.